5 dining hot spots in St. Louis this March

Slated to open in late February, the most anticipated and avant garde restaurant opening of the year features “vegetable-forward” (but not vegetarian) fare from culinary power couple Michael and Tara Gallina. viciarestaurant.com.

Hi-Pointe Drive-In

This new endeavor from the owners of Sugarfire Smoke House is built from repurposed shipping containers and features juicy burgers, hand-cut fries, and specialty shakes that are worth the wait. hipointedrivein.com.

’ZZA

This fast-casual pizza concept from the owner of Pi Pizzeria boasts boldly flavored salads and oblong single-serve pizzas, ready in three minutes, that sell for $9. The STL-Style ’zza is topped with Provel cheese, a bête noire at Pi. zza-pizza.com.

Cork & Barrel Chop House & Spirits

It’s the only restaurant in Missouri using kamado-style Big Green Egg grills to smoke meats. The eclectic menu also includes Asian nachos, pierogies, and a grilled chicken muffuletta. corkandbarrel.com.

Pieces

Located in the former Franco space behind Soulard Farmers’ Market, the city’s first board game bar and café boasts a 500-game inventory. Servers doubling as “game navigators” offer assistance with selection, setup, and rules of play. stlpieces.com.